Microprocessor apparatus and method for enabling configurable data block size in a cryptographic engine

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for performing cryptographic operations on a plurality of input data blocks within a processor, where the size of the input data blocks is programmable. In one embodiment, an apparatus for performing cryptographic operations is provided. The apparatus includes a cryptographic instruction and execution logic. The cryptographic instruction is received by a computing device as part of an instruction flow executing on the computing device. The cryptographic instruction prescribes one of the cryptographic operations, and also one of a plurality of data block sizes. The execution logic is operatively coupled to the cryptographic instruction. The execution logic executes the one of the cryptographic operations. The execution logic has a block size controller that employs the one of a plurality of data block sizes during execution of the one of the cryptographic operations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the following U.S.Provisional Applications, which are herein incorporated by reference forall intents and purposes. FILING SERIAL NUMBER DATE TITLE 60/506971 Sep.29, 2003 MICROPROCESSOR APPARATUS AND (CNTR.2070) METHOD FOR OPTIMIZINGBLOCK CIPHER CRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS 60/507001 Sep. 29, 2003 APPARATUSAND METHOD FOR (CNTR.2071) PERFORMING OPERATING SYSTEM TRANSPARENT BLOCKCIPHER CRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS 60/506978 Sep. 29, 2003 MICROPROCESSORAPPARATUS AND (CNTR.2072) METHOD FOR EMPLOYING CONFIGURABLE BLOCK CIPHERCRYPTOGRAPHIC ALGORITHMS 60/507004 Sep. 29, 2003 APPARATUS AND METHODFOR (CNTR.2073) PROVIDING USER-GENERATED KEY SCHEDULE IN AMICROPROCESSOR CRYPTOGRAPHIC ENGINE 60/507002 Sep. 29, 2003MICROPROCESSOR APPARATUS AND (CNTR.2075) METHOD FOR PROVIDINGCONFIGURABLE CRYPTOGRAPHIC BLOCK CIPHER ROUND RESULTS 60/506991 Sep. 29,2003 MICROPROCESSOR APPARATUS AND (CNTR.2076) METHOD FOR ENABLINGCONFIGURABLE DATA BLOCK SIZE IN A CRYPTOGRAPHIC ENGINE 60/507003 Sep.29, 2003 APPARATUS FOR ACCELERATING BLOCK (CNTR.2078) CIPHERCRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS IN A MICROPROCESSOR 60/464394 Apr. 18, 2003ADVANCED CRYPTOGRAPHY UNIT (CNTR.2222) 60/506979 Sep. 29, 2003MICROPROCESSOR APPARATUS AND (CNTR.2223) METHOD FOR PROVIDINGCONFIGURABLE CRYPTOGRAPHIC KEY SIZE 60/508927 Oct. 3, 2003 APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR (CNTR.2226) PERFORMING OPERATING SYSTEM TRANSPARENT CIPHERBLOCK CHAINING MODE CRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS 60/508679 Oct. 3, 2003APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR (CNTR.2227) PERFORMING OPERATING SYSTEMTRANSPARENT CIPHER FEEDBACK MODE CRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS 60/508076 Oct.3, 2003 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR (CNTR.2228) PERFORMING OPERATING SYSTEMTRANSPARENT OUTPUT FEEDBACK MODE CRYPTOGRAPIC FUNCTIONS 60/508604 Oct.3, 2003 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR (CNTR.2230) GENERATING A CRYPTOGRAPHICKEY SCHEDULE IN A MICROPROCESSOR

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of the followingco-pending U.S. Patent Applications, all of which have a common assigneeand common inventors. SERIAL FILING NUMBER DATE TITLE 10/674057 Sep. 29,2003 MICROPROCESSOR APPARATUS (CNTR.2224) AND METHOD FOR PERFORMINGBLOCK CIPHER CRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS

[0003] This application is related to the following co-pending U.S.Patent Applications, all of which have a common assignee and commoninventors. FILING SERIAL NUMBER DATE TITLE 10/730167 Dec. 5, 2003MICROPROCESSOR APPARATUS AND CNTR.2224-C1) METHOD FOR PERFORMING BLOCKCIPHER CRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS 10800768 Mar. 15, 2004 MICROPROCESSORAPPARATUS AND (CNTR.2070) METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING BLOCK CIPHERCRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS 10/727973 Dec. 4, 2003 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR(CNTR.2071) PERFORMING TRANSPARENT BLOCK CIPHER CRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS10/800938 Mar. 15, 2004 MICROPROCESSOR APPARATUS AND (CNTR.2072) METHODFOR EMPLOYING CONFIGURABLE BLOCK CIPHER CRYPTOGRAPHIC ALGORITHMS10/800983 Mar. 15, 2004 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR (CNTR.2073) PROVIDINGUSER-GENERATED KEY SCHEDULE IN A MICROPROCESSOR CRYPTOGRAPHIC ENGINE                          HEREWITH MICROPROCESSOR APPARATUS AND(CNTR.2075) METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONFIGURABLE CRYPTOGRAPHIC BLOCK CIPHERROUND RESULTS                           HEREWITH MICROPROCESSORAPPARATUS AND (CNTR.2223) METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONFIGURABLECRYPTOGRAPHIC KEY SIZE                           HEREWITH APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR (CNTR.2226) PERFORMING TRANSPARENT CIPHER BLOCK CHAINING MODECRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS                           HEREWITH APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR (CNTR.2227) PERFORMING TRANSPARENT CIPHER FEEDBACK MODECRYPTOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS                           HEREWITH APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR (CNTR.2228) PERFORMING TRANSPARENT OUTPUT FEEDBACK MODECRYPTOGRAPIC FUNCTIONS                           HEREWITH APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR (CNTR.2230) GENERATING A CRYPTOGRAPHIC KEY SCHEDULE IN AMICROPROCESSOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] 1. Field of the Invention

[0005] This invention relates in general to the field ofmicroelectronics, and more particularly to an apparatus and method forperforming cryptographic operations in a computing device that allowsthe size of the data blocks worked upon to be programmed at theinstruction level.

[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0007] An early computer system operated independently of other computersystems in the sense that all of the input data required by anapplication program executing on the early computer system was eitherresident on that computer system or was provided by an applicationprogrammer at run time. The application program generated output data asa result of being executed and the output data was generally in the formof a paper printout or a file which was written to a magnetic tapedrive, disk drive, or other type of mass storage device that was part ofthe computer system. The output file could then be used as an input fileto a subsequent application program that was executed on the samecomputer system or, if the output data was previously stored as a fileto a removable or transportable mass storage device, it could then beprovided to a different, yet compatible, computer system to be employedby application programs thereon. On these early systems, the need forprotecting sensitive information was recognized and, among otherinformation security measures, cryptographic application programs weredeveloped and employed to protect the sensitive information fromunauthorized disclosure. These cryptographic programs typicallyscrambled and unscrambled the output data that was stored as files onmass storage devices.

[0008] It was not many years thereafter before users began to discoverthe benefits of networking computers together to provide shared accessto information. Consequently, network architectures, operating systems,and data transmission protocols commensurately evolved to the extentthat the ability to access shared data was not only supported, butprominently featured. For example, it is commonplace today for a user ofa computer workstation to access files on a different workstation ornetwork file server, or to utilize the Internet to obtain news and otherinformation, or to transmit and receive electronic messages (i.e.,email) to and from hundreds of other computers, or to connect with avendor's computer system and to provide credit card or bankinginformation in order to purchase products from that vendor, or toutilize a wireless network at a restaurant, airport, or other publicsetting to perform any of the aforementioned activities. Therefore, theneed to protect sensitive data and transmissions from unauthorizeddisclosure has grown dramatically. The number of instances during agiven computer session where a user is obliged to protect his or hersensitive data has substantially increased. Current news headlinesregularly force computer information security issues such as spam,hacking, identity theft, reverse engineering, spoofing, and credit cardfraud to the forefront of public concern. And since the motivation forthese invasions of privacy range all the way from innocent mistakes topremeditated cyber terrorism, responsible agencies have responded withnew laws, stringent enforcement, and public education programs. Yet,none of these responses has proved to be effective at stemming the tideof computer information compromise. Consequently, what was once theexclusive concern of governments, financial institutions, the military,and spies has now become a significant issue for the average citizen whoreads their email or accesses their checking account transactions fromtheir home computer. On the business front, one skilled in the art willappreciate that corporations from small to large presently devote aremarkable portion of their resources to the protection of proprietaryinformation.

[0009] The field of information security that provides us withtechniques and means to encode data so that it can only be decoded byspecified individuals is known as cryptography. When particularlyapplied to protecting information that is stored on or transmittedbetween computers, cryptography most often is utilized to transformsensitive information (known in the art as “plaintext” or “cleartext”)into an unintelligible form (known in the art as “ciphertext”). Thetransformation process of converting plaintext into ciphertext is called“encryption,” “enciphering,” or “ciphering” and the reversetransformation process of converting ciphertext back into plaintext isreferred to as “decryption,” “deciphering,” or “inverse ciphering.”

[0010] Within the field of cryptography, several procedures andprotocols have been developed that allow for users to performcryptographic operations without requiring great knowledge or effort andfor those users to be able to transmit or otherwise provide theirinformation products in encrypted forms to different users. Along withencrypted information, a sending user typically provides a recipientuser with a “cryptographic key” that enables the recipient user todecipher the encrypted information thus enabling the recipient user torecover or otherwise gain access to the unencrypted originalinformation. One skilled in the art will appreciate that theseprocedures and protocols generally take the form of password protection,mathematical algorithms, and application programs specifically designedto encrypt and decrypt sensitive information.

[0011] Several classes of algorithms are currently used to encrypt anddecrypt data. Algorithms according to one such class (i.e., public keycryptographic algorithms, an instance of which is the RSA algorithm)employ two cryptographic keys, a public key and a private key, toencrypt or decrypt data. According to some of the public key algorithms,a recipient's public key is employed by a sender to encrypt data fortransmission to the recipient. Because there is a mathematicalrelationship between a user's public and private keys, the recipientmust employ his private key to decrypt the transmission in order torecover the data. Although this class of cryptographic algorithms enjoyswidespread use today, encryption and decryption operations areexceedingly slow even on small amounts of data. A second class ofalgorithms, known as symmetric key algorithms, provide commensuratelevels of data security and can be executed much faster. Thesealgorithms are called symmetric key algorithms because they use a singlecryptographic key to both encrypt and decrypt information. In the publicsector, there are currently three prevailing single-key cryptographicalgorithms: the Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple DES, and theAdvanced Encryption Standard (AES). Because of the strength of thesealgorithms to protect sensitive data, they are used now by U.S.Government agencies, but it is anticipated by those in the art that oneor more of these algorithms will become the standard for commercial andprivate transactions in the near future. According to all of thesesymmetric key algorithms, plaintext and ciphertext is divided intoblocks of a specified size for encryption and decryption. For example,AES performs cryptographic operations on blocks 128 bits in size, anduses cryptographic key sizes of 128-, 192-, and 256-bits. Othersymmetric key algorithms such as the Rijndael Cipher allow for 192- and256-bit data blocks as well. Accordingly, for a block encryptionoperation, a 1024-bit plaintext message is encrypted as eight 128-bitblocks.

[0012] All of the symmetric key algorithms utilize the same type ofsub-operations to encrypt a block of plaintext. And according to many ofthe more commonly employed symmetric key algorithms, an initialcryptographic key is expanded into a plurality of keys (i.e., a “keyschedule”), each of which is employed as a corresponding cryptographic“round” of sub-operations is performed on the block of plaintext. Forinstance, a first key from the key schedule is used to perform a firstcryptographic round of sub-operations on the block of plaintext. Theresult of the first round is used as input to a second round, where thesecond round employs a second key from the key schedule to produce asecond result. And a specified number of subsequent rounds are performedto yield a final round result which is the ciphertext itself. Accordingto the AES algorithm, the sub-operations within each round are referredto in the literature as SubBytes (or S-box), ShiftRows, MixColums, andAddRoundKey. Decryption of a block of ciphertext is similarlyaccomplished with the exceptions that the ciphertext is the input to theinverse cipher and inverse sub-operations are performed (e.g., InverseMixColumns, Inverse ShiftRows) during each of the rounds, and the finalresult of the rounds is a block of plaintext.

[0013] DES and Triple-DES utilize different specific sub-operations, butthe sub-operations are analogous to those of AES because they areemployed in a similar fashion to transform a block of plaintext into ablock of ciphertext.

[0014] To perform cryptographic operations on multiple successive blocksof text, all of the symmetric key algorithms employ the same types ofmodes. These modes include electronic code book (ECB) mode, cipher blockchaining (CBC) mode, cipher feedback (CFB) mode, and output feedback(OFB) mode. Some of these modes utilize an additional initializationvector during performance of the sub-operations and some use theciphertext output of a first set of cryptographic rounds performed on afirst block of plaintext as an additional input to a second set ofcryptographic rounds performed on a second block of plaintext. It isbeyond the scope of the present application to provide an in depthdiscussion of each of the cryptographic algorithms and sub-operationsemployed by present day symmetric key cryptographic algorithms. Forspecific implementation standards, the reader is directed to FederalInformation Processing Standards Publication 46-3 (FIPS-46-3), datedOct. 25, 1999 for a detailed discussion of DES and Triple DES, andFederal Information Processing Standards Publication 197 (FIPS-197),dated Nov. 26, 2001 for a detailed discussion of AES. Both of theaforementioned standards are issued and maintained by the NationalInstitute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and are herein incorporatedby reference for all intents and purposes. In addition to theaforementioned standards, tutorials, white papers, toolkits, andresource articles can be obtained from NIST's Computer Security ResourceCenter (CSRC) over the Internet at http://csrc.nist.gov/.

[0015] One skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerousapplication programs available for execution on a computer system thatcan perform cryptographic operations (i.e., encryption and decryption).In fact, some operating systems (e.g. Microsoft® WindowsXP®, Linux)provide direct encryption/decryption services in the form ofcryptographic primitives, cryptographic application program interfaces,and the like. The present inventors, however, have observed that presentday computer cryptography techniques are deficient in several respects.Thus, the reader's attention is directed to FIG. 1, whereby thesedeficiencies are highlighted and discussed below.

[0016]FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 illustrating present day computercryptography applications. The block diagram 100 depicts a firstcomputer workstation 101 connected to a local area network 105. Alsoconnected to the network 105 is a second computer workstation 102, anetwork file storage device 106, a first router 107 or other form ofinterface to a wide area network (WAN) 110 such as the Internet, and awireless network router 108 such as one of those compliant with IEEEStandard 802.11. A laptop computer 104 interfaces to the wireless router108 over a wireless network 109. At another point on the wide areanetwork 110, a second router 111 provides interface for a third computerworkstation 103.

[0017] As alluded to above, a present day user is confronted with theissue of computer information security many times during a work session.For example, under the control of a present day multi-tasking operatingsystem, a user of workstation 101 can be performing several simultaneoustasks, each of which require cryptographic operations. The user ofworkstation 101 is required to run an encryption/decryption application112 (either provided as part of the operating system or invoked by theoperating system) to store a local file on the network file storagedevice 106. Concurrent with the file storage, the user can transmit anencrypted message to a second user at workstation 102, which alsorequires executing an instance of the encryption/decryption application112. The encrypted message may be real-time (e.g., an instant message)or non-real-time (i.e. email). In addition, the user can be accessing orproviding his/her financial data (e.g., credit card numbers, financialtransactions, etc.) or other forms of sensitive data over the WAN 110from workstation 103. Workstation 103 could also represent a home officeor other remote computer 103 that the user of workstation 101 employswhen out of the office to access any of the shared resources 101, 102,106 107, 108, 109 on local area network 105. Each of theseaforementioned activities requires that a corresponding instance of theencryption/decryption application 112 be invoked. Furthermore, wirelessnetworks 109 are now being routinely provided in coffee shops, airports,schools, and other public venues, thus prompting a need for a user oflaptop 104 to encrypt/decrypt not only his/her messages to/from otherusers, but to encrypt and decrypt all communications over the wirelessnetwork 109 to the wireless router 108.

[0018] One skilled in the art will therefore appreciate that along witheach activity that requires cryptographic operations at a givenworkstation 101-104, there is a corresponding requirement to invoke aninstance of the encryption/decryption application 112. Hence, a computer101-104 in the near future could potentially be performing hundreds ofconcurrent cryptographic operations.

[0019] The present inventors have noted several limitations to the aboveapproach of performing cryptographic operations by invoking one or moreinstances of an encryption/decryption application 112 on a computingsystem 101-104. For example, performing a prescribed function viaprogrammed software is exceedingly slow compared to performing that samefunction via dedicated hardware. Each time the encryption/decryptionapplication 112 is required, a current task executing on a computer101-104 must be suspended from execution, and parameters of thecryptographic operation (i.e., plaintext, ciphertext, mode, key, etc.)must be passed through the operating system to the instance of theencryption/decryption application 112, which is invoked foraccomplishment of the cryptographic operation. And because cryptographicalgorithms necessarily involve many rounds of sub-operations on aparticular block of data, execution of the encryption/decryptionapplications 112 involves the execution of numerous computerinstructions to the extent that overall system processing speed isdisadvantageously affected. One skilled in the art will appreciate thatsending a small encrypted email message in Microsoft® Outlook® can takeup to five times as long as sending an unencrypted email message.

[0020] In addition, current techniques are limited because of the delaysassociated with operating system intervention. Most application programsdo not provide integral key generation or encryption/decryptioncomponents; they employ components of the operating system or plug-inapplications to accomplish these tasks. And operating systems areotherwise distracted by interrupts and the demands of other currentlyexecuting application programs.

[0021] Furthermore, the present inventors have noted that theaccomplishment of cryptographic operations on a present day computersystem 101-104 is very much analogous to the accomplishment of floatingpoint mathematical operations prior to the advent of dedicated floatingpoint units within microprocessors. Early floating point operations wereperformed via software and hence, they executed very slowly. Likefloating point operations, cryptographic operations performed viasoftware are disagreeably slow. As floating point technology evolvedfurther, floating point instructions were provided for execution onfloating point co-processors. These floating point co-processorsexecuted floating point operations much faster than softwareimplementations, yet they added cost to a system. Likewise,cryptographic co-processors exist today in the form of add-on boards orexternal devices that interface to a host processor via parallel portsor other interface buses (e.g., USB). These co-processors certainlyenable the accomplishment of cryptographic operations much faster thanpure software implementations. But cryptographic co-processors add costto a system configuration, require extra power, and decrease the overallreliability of a system. Cryptographic co-processor implementations areadditionally vulnerable to snooping because the data channel is not onthe same die as the host microprocessor.

[0022] Therefore, the present inventors recognize a need for dedicatedcryptographic hardware within a present day microprocessor such that anapplication program that requires a cryptographic operation can directthe microprocessor to perform the cryptographic operation via a single,atomic, cryptographic instruction. The present inventors also recognizethat such a capability should be provided so as to limit requirementsfor operating system intervention and management. Also, it is desirablethat the cryptographic instruction be available for use at anapplication program's privilege level and that the dedicatedcryptographic hardware comport with prevailing architectures of presentday microprocessors. There is also a need to provide the cryptographichardware and associated cryptographic instruction in a manner thatsupports compatibility with legacy operating systems and applications.It is moreover desirable to provide an apparatus and method forperforming cryptographic operations that is resistant to unauthorizedobservation, that can support and is programmable with respect tomultiple cryptographic algorithms, that supports verification andtesting of the particular cryptographic algorithm that is embodiedthereon, that allows for user-provided keys as well as self-generatedkeys, that supports multiple data block sizes and key sizes, and thatprovides for programmable block encryption/decryption modes such as ECB,CBC, CFB, and OFB.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention, among other applications, is directed tosolving these and other problems and disadvantages of the prior art. Thepresent invention provides a superior technique for performingcryptographic operations within a microprocessor. In one embodiment, anapparatus for performing cryptographic operations is provided. Theapparatus includes a cryptographic instruction and execution logic. Thecryptographic instruction is received by a computing device as part ofan instruction flow executing on the computing device. The cryptographicinstruction prescribes one of the cryptographic operations, and also oneof a plurality of data block sizes. The execution logic is operativelycoupled to the cryptographic instruction. The execution logic executesthe one of the cryptographic operations. The execution logic has a blocksize controller that employs the one of a plurality of data block sizesduring execution of the one of the cryptographic operations.

[0024] One aspect of the present invention contemplates an apparatus forperforming cryptographic operations. The apparatus has a cryptographyunit within a device and block size logic. The cryptography unitexecutes one of the cryptographic operations responsive to receipt of acryptographic instruction within an instruction flow that prescribes theone of the cryptographic operations. The cryptographic instruction alsoprescribes a block size to be employed when executing the one of thecryptographic operations. The block size logic is operatively coupledwithin the cryptography unit. The block size logic directs the device toemploy the block size when performing the one of the cryptographicoperations.

[0025] Another aspect of the present invention provides a method forperforming cryptographic operations in a device. The method includesreceiving a cryptographic instruction that prescribes employment ofparticular block size during execution of one of a plurality ofcryptographic operations; and employing the data block size whenexecuting the one of the cryptographic operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, and accompanying drawings where:

[0027]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating present day cryptographyapplications;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting techniques for performingcryptographic operations;

[0029]FIG. 3 is a block diagram featuring a microprocessor apparatusaccording to the present invention for performing cryptographicoperations;

[0030]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an atomiccryptographic instruction according to the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 5 is a table illustrating exemplary block cipher mode fieldvalues according to the atomic cryptographic instruction of FIG. 4;

[0032]FIG. 6 is a block diagram detailing a cryptography unit within anx86-compatible microprocessor according to the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating fields within an exemplary microinstruction for directing cryptographic sub-operations within themicroprocessor of FIG. 6;

[0034]FIG. 8 is a table depicting values of the register field for anXLOAD micro instruction according to the format of FIG. 7;

[0035]FIG. 9 is a table showing values of the register field for anXSTOR micro instruction according to the format of FIG. 7;

[0036]FIG. 10 is diagram highlighting an exemplary control word formatfor prescribing cryptographic parameters of a cryptography operationaccording to the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 11 is a table depicting values of the DSIZE field for acontrol word according to FIG. 10;

[0038]FIG. 12 is a block diagram featuring details of an exemplarycryptography unit according to the present invention;

[0039]FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of blockcipher logic according to the present invention for performingcryptographic operations in accordance with the Advanced EncryptionStandard (AES) algorithm;

[0040]FIG. 14 is a flow chart featuring a method according to thepresent invention for preserving the state of cryptographic parametersduring an interrupting event; and

[0041]FIG. 15 is a flow chart depicting a method according to thepresent invention for employing a user-prescribed block size whenperforming a cryptographic operation on a plurality of input data blocksin the presence of one or more interrupting events.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The following description is presented to enable one of ordinaryskill in the art to make and use the present invention as providedwithin the context of a particular application and its requirements.Various modifications to the preferred embodiment will, however, beapparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the presentinvention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodimentsshown and described herein, but is to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and novel features herein disclosed.

[0043] In view of the above background discussion on cryptographicoperations and associated techniques employed within present daycomputer systems to encrypt and decrypt data, the discussion of thesetechniques and their limitations will now be continued with reference toFIG. 2. Following this, the present invention will be discussed withreference to FIGS. 3-15. The present invention provides an apparatus andmethod for performing cryptographic operations in a present day computersystem that exhibits superior performance characteristics overprevailing mechanisms and furthermore satisfies the above noted goals oflimiting operating system intervention, atomicity, legacy andarchitectural compatibility, algorithmic and mode programmability, hackresistance, and testability.

[0044] Now turning to FIG. 2, a block diagram 200 is presented depictingtechniques for performing cryptographic operations in a present daycomputer system as discussed above. The block diagram 200 includes amicroprocessor 201 that fetches instructions and accesses dataassociated with an application program from an area of system memorycalled application memory 203. Program control and access of data withinthe application memory 203 is generally managed by operating systemsoftware 202 that resides in a protected area of system memory. Asdiscussed above, if an executing application program (e.g., an emailprogram or a file storage program) requires that a cryptographicoperation be performed, the executing application program mustaccomplish the cryptographic operation by directing the microprocessor201 to execute a significant number of instructions. These instructionsmay be subroutines that are part of the executing application programitself, they may be plug-in applications that are linked to theexecution application program, or they may be services that are providedby the operating system 202. Regardless of their association, oneskilled in the art will appreciate that the instructions will reside insome designated or allocated area of memory. For purposes of discussion,these areas of memory are shown within the application memory 203 andcomprise a cryptographic key generation application 204 that typicallygenerates or accepts a cryptographic key and expands the key into a keyschedule 205 for use in cryptographic round operations. For amulti-block encryption operation, a block encryption application 206 isinvoked. The encryption application 206 executes instructions thataccess blocks of plaintext 210, the key schedule 205, cryptographicparameters 209 that further specify particulars of the encryptionoperation such as mode, location of the key schedule, etc. If requiredby specified mode, an initialization vector 208 is also accessed by theencryption application 206. The encryption application 206 executes theinstructions therein to generate corresponding blocks of ciphertext)²¹¹.Similarly, a block decryption application 207 is invoked for performingblock decryption operations. The decryption application 207 executesinstructions that access blocks of ciphertext 211, the key schedule 205,cryptographic parameters 209 that further specify particulars of theblock decryption operation and, if mode requires, an initializationvector 208 is also accessed. The decryption application 207 executes theinstructions therein to generate corresponding blocks of plaintext 210.

[0045] It is noteworthy that a significant number of instructions mustbe executed in order to generate cryptographic keys and to encrypt ordecrypt blocks of text. The aforementioned FIPS specifications containmany examples of pseudo code enabling the approximate number ofinstructions that are required to be estimated, therefore, one skilledin the art will appreciate that hundreds of instructions are required toaccomplish a simple block encryption operation. And each of theseinstructions must be executed by the microprocessor 201 in order toaccomplish the requested cryptographic operation. Furthermore, theexecution of instructions to perform a cryptographic operation isgenerally seen as superfluous to the primary purposes (e.g., filemanagement, instant messaging, email, remote file access, credit cardtransaction) of a currently executing application program. Consequently,a user of the currently executing application program senses that thecurrently executing application is performing inefficiently. In the caseof stand-alone or plug-in encryption and decryption applications 206,207, invocation and management of these applications 206, 207 must alsobe subject to the other demands of the operating system 202 such assupporting interrupts, exceptions, and like events that furtherexacerbate the problem. Moreover, for every concurrent cryptographicoperation that is required on a computer system, a separate instance ofthe applications 204, 206, 207 must be allocated in memory 203. And, asnoted above, it is anticipated that the number of concurrentcryptographic operations required to be performed by a microprocessor201 will continue to increase with time.

[0046] The present inventors have noted the problems and limitations ofcurrent computer system cryptographic techniques and furthermorerecognize a need to provide apparatus and methods for performingcryptographic operations in a microprocessor which do not exhibitdisadvantageous program delays to users. Accordingly, the presentinvention provides a microprocessor apparatus and associated methodologyfor performing cryptographic operations via a dedicated cryptographicunit therein. The cryptographic unit is activated to performcryptographic operations via programming of a single cryptographicinstruction. The present invention will now be discussed with referenceto FIGS. 3-12.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is provided featuring amicroprocessor apparatus according to the present invention forperforming cryptographic operations. The block diagram 300 depicts amicroprocessor 301 that is coupled to a system memory 321 via a memorybus 319. The microprocessor 301 includes translation logic 303 thatreceives instructions from an instruction register 302. The translationlogic 303 comprises logic, circuits, devices, or microcode (i.e., microinstructions or native instructions), or a combination of logic,circuits, devices, or microcode, or equivalent elements that areemployed to translate instructions into associated sequences of microinstructions. The elements employed to perform translation within thetranslation logic 303 may be shared with other circuits, microcode,etc., that are employed to perform other functions within themicroprocessor 301. According to the scope of the present application,microcode is a term employed to refer to one or more micro instructions.A micro instruction (also referred to as a native instruction) is aninstruction at the level that a unit executes. For example, microinstructions are directly executed by a reduced instruction set computer(RISC) microprocessor. For a complex instruction set computer (CISC)microprocessor such as an x86-compatible microprocessor, x86instructions are translated into associated micro instructions, and theassociated micro instructions are directly executed by a unit or unitswithin the CISC microprocessor. The translation logic 303 is coupled toa micro instruction queue 304. The micro instruction queue 304 has aplurality of micro instruction entries 305, 306. Micro instructions areprovided from the micro instruction queue 304 to register stage logicthat includes a register file 307. The register file 307 has a pluralityof registers 308-313 whose contents are established prior to performinga prescribed cryptographic operation. Registers 308-312 point tocorresponding locations 323-327 in memory 321 that contain data which isrequired to perform the prescribed cryptographic operation. The registerstage is coupled to load logic 314, which interfaces to a data cache 315for retrieval of data for performance of the prescribed cryptographicoperation. The data cache 315 is coupled to the memory 321 via thememory bus 319. Execution logic 328 is coupled to the load logic 314 andexecutes the operations prescribed by micro instructions as passed downfrom previous stages. The execution logic 328 comprises logic, circuits,devices, or microcode (i.e., micro instructions or native instructions),or a combination of logic, circuits, devices, or microcode, orequivalent elements that are employed to perform operations asprescribed by instructions provided thereto. The elements employed toperform the operations within the execution logic 328 may be shared withother circuits, microcode, etc., that are employed to perform otherfunctions within the microprocessor 301. The execution logic 328includes a cryptography unit 316. The cryptography unit 316 receivesdata required to perform the prescribed cryptographic operation from theload logic 314. Micro instructions direct the cryptography unit 316 toperform the prescribed cryptographic operation on a plurality of blocksof input text 326 to generate a corresponding plurality of blocks ofoutput text 327. The cryptography unit 316 comprises logic, circuits,devices, or microcode (i.e., micro instructions or native instructions),or a combination of logic, circuits, devices, or microcode, orequivalent elements that are employed to perform cryptographicoperations. The elements employed to perform the cryptographicoperations within the cryptography unit 316 may be shared with othercircuits, microcode, etc., that are employed to perform other functionswithin the microprocessor 301. In one embodiment, the cryptography unit316 operates in parallel to other execution units (not shown) within theexecution logic 328 such as an integer unit, floating point unit, etc.One embodiment of a “unit” within the scope of the present applicationcomprises logic, circuits, devices, or microcode (i.e., microinstructions or native instructions), or a combination of logic,circuits, devices, or microcode, or equivalent elements that areemployed to perform specified functions or specified operations. Theelements employed to perform the specified functions or specifiedoperations within a particular unit may be shared with other circuits,microcode, etc., that are employed to perform other functions oroperations within the microprocessor 301. For example, in oneembodiment, an integer unit comprises logic, circuits, devices, ormicrocode (i.e., micro instructions or native instructions), or acombination of logic, circuits, devices, or microcode, or equivalentelements that are employed to execute integer instructions. A floatingpoint unit comprises logic, circuits, devices, or microcode (i.e., microinstructions or native instructions), or a combination of logic,circuits, devices, or microcode, or equivalent elements that areemployed to execute floating point instructions. The elements employedexecute integer instructions within the integer unit may be shared withother circuits, microcode, etc., that are employed to execute floatingpoint instructions within the floating point unit. In one embodimentthat is compatible with the x86 architecture, the cryptography unit 316operates in parallel with an x86 integer unit, an x86 floating pointunit, an x86 MMX® unit, and an x86 SSE® unit. According to the scope ofthe present application, an embodiment is compatible with the x86architecture if the embodiment can correctly execute a majority of theapplication programs that are designed to be executed on an x86microprocessor. An application program is correctly executed if itsexpected results are obtained. Alternative x86-compatible embodimentscontemplate the cryptography unit operating in parallel with a subset ofthe aforementioned x86 execution units. The cryptography unit 316 iscoupled to store logic 317 and provides the corresponding plurality ofblocks of output text 327. The store logic 317 is also coupled to thedata cache 315, which routes the output text data 327 to system memory321 for storage. The store logic 317 is coupled to write back logic 318.The write back logic 318 updates registers 308-313 within the registerfile 307 as the prescribed cryptographic operation is accomplished. Inone embodiment, micro instructions flow through each of theaforementioned logic stages 302, 303, 304, 307, 314, 316-318 insynchronization with a clock signal (not shown) so that operations canbe concurrently executed in a manner substantially similar to operationsperformed on an assembly line.

[0048] Within the system memory 321, an application program thatrequires the prescribed cryptographic operation can direct themicroprocessor 301 to perform the operation via a single cryptographicinstruction 322, referred to herein for instructive purposes as anXCRYPT instruction 322. In a CISC embodiment, the XCRYPT instruction 322comprises an instruction that prescribes a cryptographic operation. In aRISC embodiment, the XCRYPT instruction 322 comprises a microinstruction that prescribes a cryptographic operation. In oneembodiment, the XCRYPT instruction 322 utilizes a spare or otherwiseunused instruction opcode within an existing instruction setarchitecture. In one x86-compatible embodiment, the XCRYPT instruction322 is a 4-byte instruction comprising an x86 REP prefix (i.e., 0×F3),followed by unused x86 2-byte opcode (e.g., 0x0FA7), followed a bytedetailing a specific block cipher mode to be employed during executionof a prescribed cryptographic operation. In one embodiment, the XCRPYTinstruction 322 according to the present invention can be executed atthe level of system privileges afforded to application programs and canthus be programmed into a program flow of instructions that are providedto the microprocessor 301 either directly by an application program orunder control of an operating system 320. Since there is only oneinstruction 322 that is required to direct the microprocessor 301 toperform the prescribed cryptographic operation, it is contemplated thataccomplishment of the operation is entirely transparent to the operatingsystem 320.

[0049] In operation, the operating system 320 invokes an applicationprogram to execute on the microprocessor 301. As part of the flow ofinstructions during execution of the application program, an XCRYPTinstruction 322 is provided from memory 321 to the fetch logic 302.Prior to execution of the XCRYPT instruction 322, however, instructionswithin the program flow direct the microprocessor 301 to initialize thecontents of registers 308-312 so that they point to locations 323-327 inmemory 321 that contain a cryptographic control word 323, an initialcryptographic key 324 or a key schedule 324, an initialization vector325 (if required), input text 326 for the operation, and output text327. It is required to initialize the registers 308-312 prior toexecuting the XCRYPT instruction 322 because the XCRYPT instruction 322implicitly references the registers 308-312 along with an additionalregister 313 that contains a block count, that is the number of blocksof data within the input text area 326 to be encrypted or decrypted.Thus, the translation logic 303 retrieves the XCRYPT instruction fromthe fetch logic 302 and translates it into a corresponding sequence ofmicro instructions that directs the microprocessor 301 to perform theprescribed cryptographic operation. A first plurality of microinstructions 305-306 within the corresponding sequence of microinstructions specifically directs the cryptography unit 316 to load dataprovided from the load logic 314 and to begin execution of a prescribednumber of cryptographic rounds to generate a corresponding block ofoutput data and to provide the corresponding block of output data to thestore logic 317 for storage in the output text area 327 of memory 321via the data cache 315. A second plurality of micro instructions (notshown) within the corresponding sequence of micro instructions directsother execution units (not shown) within the microprocessor 301 toperform other operations necessary to accomplish the prescribedcryptographic operation such as management of non-architecturalregisters (not shown) that contain temporary results and counters,update of input and output pointer registers 311-312, update of theinitialization vector pointer register 310 (if required) followingencryption/decryption of a block of input text 326, processing ofpending interrupts, etc. In one embodiment, registers 308-313 arearchitectural registers. An architectural register 308-313 is a registerthat is defined within the instruction set architecture (ISA) for theparticular microprocessor that is implemented.

[0050] In one embodiment, the cryptography unit 316 is divided into aplurality of stages thus allowing for pipelining of successive inputtext blocks 326.

[0051] The block diagram 300 of FIG. 3 is provided to teach thenecessary elements of the present invention and thus, much of the logicwithin a present day microprocessor 301 has been omitted from the blockdiagram 300 for clarity purposes. One skilled in the art willappreciate, however, that a present day microprocessor 301 comprisesmany stages and logic elements according to specific implementation,some of which have been aggregated herein for clarity purposes. Forinstance, the load logic 314 could embody an address generation stagefollowed by a cache interface stage, following by a cache line alignmentstage. What is important to note, however, is that a completecryptographic operation on a plurality of blocks of input text 326 isdirected according to the present invention via a single instruction 322whose operation is otherwise transparent to considerations of theoperating system 320 and whose execution is accomplished via a dedicatedcryptography unit 316 that operates in parallel with and in concert withother execution units within the microprocessor 301. The presentinventors contemplate provision of alternative embodiments of thecryptography unit 316 in embodiment configurations that are analogous toprovision of dedicated floating point unit hardware within amicroprocessor in former years. Operation of the cryptography unit 316and associated XCRPYT instruction 322 is entirely compatible with theconcurrent operation of legacy operating systems 320 and applications,as will be described in more detail below.

[0052] Now referring to FIG. 4, a block diagram is provided showing oneembodiment of an atomic cryptographic instruction 400 according to thepresent invention. The cryptographic instruction 400 includes anoptional prefix field 401, which is followed by a repeat prefix field402, which is followed by an opcode field 403, which is followed by ablock cipher mode field 404. In one embodiment, contents of the fields401-404 comport with the x86 instruction set architecture. Alternativeembodiments contemplate compatibility with other instruction setarchitectures.

[0053] Operationally, the optional prefix 401 is employed in manyinstruction set architectures to enable or disable certain processingfeatures of a host microprocessor such as directing 16-bit or 32-bitoperations, directing processing or access to specific memory segments,etc. The repeat prefix 402 indicates that the cryptographic operationprescribed by the cryptographic instruction 400 is to be accomplished ona plurality of blocks of input data (i.e., plaintext or ciphertext). Therepeat prefix 402 also implicitly directs a comporting microprocessor toemploy the contents of a plurality of architectural registers therein aspointers to locations in system memory that contain cryptographic dataand parameters needed to accomplish the specified cryptographicoperation. As noted above, in an x86-compatible embodiment, the value ofthe repeat prefix 402 is 0XF3. And, according to x86 architecturalprotocol, the cryptographic instruction is very similar in form to anx86 repeat string instruction such as REP.MOVS. For example, whenexecuted by an x86-compatible microprocessor embodiment of the presentinvention, the repeat prefix implicitly references a block countvariable that is stored in architectural register ECX, a source addresspointer (pointing to the input data for the cryptographic operation)that is stored in register ESI, and a destination address pointer(pointing to the output data area in memory) that is stored in registerEDI. In an x86-compatible embodiment, the present invention furtherextends the conventional repeat-string instruction concept to furtherreference a control word pointer that is stored in register EDX, acryptographic key pointer that is stored in register EBX, and a pointerto an initialization vector (if required by prescribed cipher mode) thatis stored in register EAX.

[0054] The opcode field 403 prescribes that the microprocessoraccomplish a cryptographic operation as further specified within acontrol word stored in memory that is implicitly referenced via thecontrol word pointer. The present invention contemplates preferredchoice of the opcode value 403 as one of the spare or unused opcodevalues within an existing instruction set architecture so as to preservecompatibility within a conforming microprocessor with legacy operatingsystem and application software. For example, as noted above, anx86-compatible embodiment of the opcode field 403 employs value 0x0FA7to direct execution of the specified cryptographic operation. The blockcipher mode field 404 prescribes the particular block cipher mode to beemployed during the specified cryptographic operation, as will now bediscussed with reference to FIG. 5.

[0055]FIG. 5 is a table 500 illustrating exemplary block cipher modefield values according to the atomic cryptographic instruction of FIG.4. Value 0xC8 prescribes that the cryptographic operation beaccomplished using electronic code book (ECB) mode. Value 0×D0prescribes that the cryptographic operation be accomplished using cipherblock chaining (CBC) mode. Value 0xE0 prescribes that the cryptographicoperation be accomplished using cipher feedback (CFB) mode. And value0xE8 prescribes that the cryptographic operation be accomplished usingoutput feedback (OFB) mode. All other values of the block cipher modefield 404 are reserved. These modes are described in the aforementionedFIPS documents.

[0056] Now turning to FIG. 6, a block diagram is presented detailing acryptography unit 617 within an x86-compatible microprocessor 600according to the present invention. The microprocessor 600 includesfetch logic 601 that fetches instructions from memory (not shown) forexecution. The fetch logic 601 is coupled to translation logic 602. Thetranslation logic 602 comprises logic, circuits, devices, or microcode(i.e., micro instructions or native instructions), or a combination oflogic, circuits, devices, or microcode, or equivalent elements that areemployed to translate instructions into associated sequences of microinstructions. The elements employed to perform translation within thetranslation logic 602 may be shared with other circuits, microcode,etc., that are employed to perform other functions within themicroprocessor 600. The translation logic 602 includes a translator 603that is coupled to a microcode ROM 604. Interrupt logic 626 couples tothe translation logic 602 via bus 628. A plurality of software andhardware interrupt signals 627 are processed by the interrupt logic 626which indicates pending interrupts to the translation logic 628. Thetranslation logic 602 is coupled to successive stages of themicroprocessor 600 including a register stage 605, address stage 606,load stage 607, execute stage 608, store stage 618, and write back stage619. Each of the successive stages include logic to accomplishparticular functions related to the execution of instructions that areprovided by the fetch logic 601 as has been previously discussed withreference like-named elements in the microprocessor of FIG. 3. Theexemplary x86-compatible embodiment 600 depicted in FIG. 6 featuresexecution logic 632 within the execute stage 608 that includes parallelexecution units 610, 612, 614, 616, 617. An integer unit 610 receivesinteger micro instructions for execution from micro instruction queue609. A floating point unit 612 receives floating point microinstructions for execution from micro instruction queue 611. An MMX®unit 614 receives MMX micro instructions for execution from microinstruction queue 613. An SSE® unit 616 receives SSE micro instructionsfor execution from micro instruction queue 615. In the exemplary x86embodiment shown, a cryptography unit 617 is coupled to the SSE unit 616via a load bus 620, a stall signal 621, and a store bus 622. Thecryptography unit 617 shares the SSE unit's micro instruction queue 615.An alternative embodiment contemplates stand-alone parallel operation ofthe cryptography unit 617 in a manner like that of units 610, 612, and614. The integer unit 610 is coupled an x86 EFLAGS register 624. TheEFLAGS register includes an X bit 625 whose state is set to indicatewhether or not cryptographic operations are currently in process. In oneembodiment the X bit 625 is bit 30 of an x86 ELFAGS register 624. Inaddition, the integer unit 610 access a machine specific register 628 toevaluate the state of an E bit 629. The state of the E bit 629 indicateswhether or not the cryptography unit 617 is present within themicroprocessor 600. The integer unit 610 also accesses a D bit 631 in afeature control register 630 to enable or disable the cryptography unit617. As with the microprocessor embodiment 301 of FIG. 3, themicroprocessor 600 of FIG. 6 features elements essential to teach thepresent invention in the context of an x86-compatible embodiment and forclarity aggregates or omits other elements of the microprocessor. Oneskilled in the art will appreciate that other elements are required tocomplete the interface such as a data cache (not shown), bus interfaceunit (not shown), clock generation and distribution logic (not shown),etc.

[0057] In operation, instructions are fetched from memory (not shown) bythe fetch logic 601 and are provided in synchronization with a clocksignal (not shown) to the translation logic 602. The translation logic602 translates each instruction into a corresponding sequence of microinstructions that are sequentially provided in synchronization with theclock signal to subsequent stages 605-608, 618, 619 of themicroprocessor 600. Each micro instruction within a sequence of microinstructions directs execution of a sub-operation that is required toaccomplish an overall operation that is prescribed by a correspondinginstruction such as generation of an address by the address stage 606,addition of two operands within the integer unit 610 which have beenretrieved from prescribed registers (not shown) within the registerstage 605, storage of a result generated by one of the execution units610, 612, 614, 616, 617 in memory by the store logic 618, etc. Dependingupon the instruction that is being translated, the translation logic 602will employ the translator 603 to directly generate the sequence ofmicro instructions, or it will fetch the sequence from the microcode ROM604, or it will employ the translator 603 to directly generate a portionof the sequence and fetch the remaining portion of the sequence from themicrocode ROM 604. The micro instructions proceed sequentially throughthe successive stages 605-608, 618, 619 of the microprocessor 600 insynchronization with the clock. As micro instructions reach the executestage 608, they are routed by the execution logic 632 along with theiroperands (retrieved from registers within the register stage 605, orgenerated by logic within the address stage 606, or retrieved from adata cache by the load logic 608) to a designated execution unit 610,612, 614, 616, 617 by placing the micro instructions in a correspondingmicro instruction queue 609, 611, 613, 615. The execution units 610,612, 614, 616, 617 execute the micro instructions and provide results tothe store stage 618. In one embodiment, the micro instructions includefields indicating whether or not they can be executed in parallel withother operations.

[0058] Responsive to fetching an XCRYPT instruction as described above,the translation logic 602 generates associated micro instructions thatdirect logic within subsequent stages 605-608, 618, 619 of themicroprocessor 600 to perform the prescribed cryptographic operation.Accordingly, a first plurality of the associated micro instructions arerouted directly to the cryptography unit 617 and direct the unit 617 toload data provided over the load bus 620, or to load a block of inputdata and begin execution of a prescribed number of cryptographic roundsto produce a block of output data, or to provide a produced block ofoutput data over the store bus 622 for storage in memory by the storelogic 618. A second plurality of the associated micro instructions arerouted to other execution units 610, 612, 614, 616 to perform othersub-operations that are necessary to accomplish the prescribedcryptographic operation such as testing of the E bit 629, enabling the Dbit 631, setting the X bit 625 to indicate that a cryptographicoperation is in process, updating registers (e.g., count register, inputtext pointer register, output text pointer register) within the registerstage 605, processing of interrupts 627 indicated by the interrupt logic626, etc. The associated micro instructions are ordered to provide foroptimum performance of specified cryptographic operations on multipleblocks of input data by interlacing integer unit micro instructionswithin sequences of cryptography unit micro instructions so that integeroperations can be accomplished in parallel with cryptography unitoperations. Micro instructions are included in the associated microinstructions to allow for and recover from pending interrupts 627.Because all of the pointers to cryptographic parameters and data areprovided within x86 architectural registers, their states are saved wheninterrupts are processed and the states are restored upon return frominterrupts. Upon return from an interrupt, micro instructions test thestate of the X bit 625 to determine if a cryptographic operation was inprogress. If so, the operation is repeated on the particular block ofinput data that was being processed when the interrupt occurred. Theassociated micro instructions are ordered to allow for the pointerregisters and intermediate results of a sequence of block cryptographicoperations on a sequence of input text blocks to be updated prior toprocessing interrupts 627.

[0059] Now referring to FIG. 7, a diagram is presented illustratingfields within an exemplary micro instruction 700 for directingcryptographic sub-operations within the microprocessor of FIG. 6. Themicro instruction 700 includes a micro opcode field 701, a data registerfield 702, and a register field 703. The micro opcode field 701specifies a particular sub-operation to be performed and designateslogic within one or more stages of the microprocessor 600 to perform thesub-operation. Specific values of the micro opcode field 701 designatethat the micro instruction is directed for execution by a cryptographyunit according to the present invention. In one embodiment, there aretwo specific values. A first value (XLOAD) designates that data is to beretrieved from a memory location whose address is specified by contentsof an architectural register denoted by contents of the data registerfield 702. The data is to be loaded into a register within thecryptography unit that is specified by contents of the register field703. The retrieved data (e.g., cryptographic key data, control word,input text data, initialization vector) is provided to the cryptographyunit. A second value (XSTOR) of the micro opcode field 701 designatesthat data generated by the cryptography unit is to be stored in a memorylocation whose address is specified by contents of an architecturalregister denoted by contents of the data register field 702. In amulti-stage embodiment of the cryptography unit, contents of theregister field 703 prescribe one of a plurality of output data blocksfor storage in memory. The output data block is provided by thecryptography unit in the data field 704 for access by store logic. Morespecific details concerning XLOAD and XSTOR micro instructions forexecution by a cryptography unit according to the present invention willnow be discussed with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0060] Turning to FIG. 8, a table 800 is presented depicting values ofthe register field 703 for an XLOAD micro instruction according to theformat 700 of FIG. 7. As was previously discussed, a sequence of microinstructions is generated in response to translation of an XCRPYTinstruction. The sequence of micro instructions comprises a firstplurality of micro instructions that are directed for execution by thecryptography unit and a second plurality of micro instructions that areexecuted by one or more of the parallel functional units within themicroprocessor other that the cryptography unit. The second plurality ofmicro instructions direct sub-operations such as updating of counters,temporary registers, architectural registers, testing and setting ofstatus bits in machine specific registers, and so on. The firstplurality of instructions provide key data, cryptographic parameters,and input data to the cryptography unit and direct the cryptography unitto generate key schedules (or to load key schedules that have beenretrieved from memory), to load and encrypt (or decrypt) input textdata, and to store output text data. An XLOAD micro instruction isprovided to the cryptography unit to load control word data, to load acryptographic key or key schedule, to load initialization vector data,to load input text data, and to load input text data and direct thecryptography unit to begin a prescribed cryptographic operation. Value0b010 in the register field 703 of an XLOAD micro instruction directsthe cryptography unit to load a control word into its internal controlword register. As this micro instruction proceeds down the pipeline, anarchitectural control word pointer register within the register stage isaccessed to obtain the address in memory where the control word isstored. Address logic translates the address into a physical address fora memory access. The load logic fetches the control word from cache andplaces the control word in the data field 704, which is then passed tothe cryptography unit. Likewise, register field value 0b100 directs thecryptography unit to load input text data provided in the data field 704and, following the load, to start the prescribed cryptographicoperation. Like the control word, the input data is accessed via apointer stored in an architectural register. Value 0b101 directs thatinput data provided in the data field 704 be loaded into internalregister 1 IN-1. Data loaded into IN-1 register can be either input textdata (when pipelining) or an initialization vector. Values 0b110 and0b111 direct the cryptography unit to load lower and upper bits,respectively, of a cryptographic key or one of the keys in auser-generated key schedule. According to the present application, auser is defined as that which performs a specified function or specifiedoperation. The user can embody an application program, an operatingsystem, a machine, or a person. Hence, the user-generated key schedule,in one embodiment, is generated by an application program. In analternative embodiment, the user-generated key schedule is generated bya person.

[0061] In one embodiment, register field values 0b100 and 0b101contemplate a cryptography unit that has two stages, whereby successiveblocks of input text data can be pipelined. Hence, to pipeline twosuccessive blocks of input data, a first XLOAD micro instruction isexecuted that provides a first block of input text data to IN-1 followedby execution of a second XLOAD micro instruction that provides a secondblock of input text data to IN-0 and that also directs the cryptographyunit to begin performing the prescribed cryptographic operation.

[0062] If a user-generated key schedule is employed to perform thecryptographic operation, then a number of XLOAD micro instructions thatcorrespond to the number of keys within the user-generated key scheduleare routed to the cryptography unit that direct the unit to load eachround key within the key schedule.

[0063] All other values of the register field 703 in an XLOAD microinstruction are reserved.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 9, a table 900 is presented showing values ofthe register field 703 for an XSTOR micro instruction according to theformat 700 of FIG. 7. An XSTOR micro instruction is issued to thecryptography unit to direct it to provide a generated (i.e., encryptedor decrypted) output text block to store logic for storage in memory atthe address provided in the address field 702. Accordingly, translationlogic according to the present invention issues an XSTOR microinstruction for a particular output text block following issuance of anXLOAD micro instruction for its corresponding input text block. Value0b100 of the register field 703 directs the cryptography unit to providethe output text block associated with its internal output-0 OUT-0register to store logic for storage. Contents of OUT-0 are associatedwith the input text block provided to IN-0. Likewise, contents ofinternal output-1 register, referenced by register field value 0b101,are associated with the input text data provided to IN-1. Accordingly,following loading of keys and control word data, a plurality of inputtext blocks can be pipelined through the cryptography unit by issuingcryptographic micro instructions in the order XLOAD.IN-1, XLOAD.IN-0(XLOAD.IN-0 directs the cryptography unit to start the cryptographicoperation as well), XSTOR.OUT-1, XSTOR.OUT-0, XLOAD.IN-1, XLOAD.IN-0(starts the operation for the next two input text blocks), and so on.

[0065] Now turning to FIG. 10, a diagram is provided highlighting anexemplary control word format 1000 for prescribing cryptographicparameters of a cryptographic operation according to the presentinvention. The control word 1000 is programmed into memory by a user andits pointer is provided to an architectural register within a conformingmicroprocessor prior to performing cryptographic operations.Accordingly, as part of a sequence of micro instructions correspondingto a provided XCRYPT instruction, an XLOAD micro instruction is issueddirecting the microprocessor to read the architectural registercontaining the pointer, to convert the pointer into a physical memoryaddress, to retrieve the control word 1000 from memory (cache), and toload the control word 1000 into the cryptography unit's internal controlword register. The control word 1000 includes a reserved RSVD field1001, a data block size field 1002, a key size KSIZE field 1003, anencryption/decryption E/D field 1004, an intermediate result IRSLT field1005, a key generation KGEN field 1006, an algorithm ALG field 1007, anda round count RCNT field 1008.

[0066] All values for the reserved field 1001 are reserved. Contents ofthe DSIZE field 1002 prescribe the input and output text block size tobe employed when performing encryption and decryption. In oneembodiment, the DSIZE field 1002 prescribes either 128-bit blocks,192-bit blocks, or 256-bit blocks. Contents of the KSIZE field 1003prescribe the size of a cryptographic key that is to be employed toaccomplish encryption or decryption. In one embodiment, the KSIZE field1003 prescribes either a 128-bit key, a 192-bit key, or a 256-bit key.The E/D field 1004 specifies whether the cryptographic operation is tobe an encryption operation or a decryption operation. The KGEN field1006 indicates if a user-generated key schedule is provided in memory orif a single cryptographic key is provided in memory. If a singlecryptographic key is provided, then micro instructions are issued to thecryptography unit along with the cryptographic key directing the unit toexpand the key into a key schedule according to the cryptographicalgorithm that is specified by contents of the ALG field 1007. In oneembodiment, specific values of the ALG field 1007 specifies the DESalgorithm, the Triple-DES algorithm, or the AES algorithm as hasheretofore been discussed. Alternative embodiments contemplate othercryptographic algorithms such as the Rijndael Cipher, the TwofishCipher, etc. Contents of the RCNT field 1008 prescribe the number ofcryptographic rounds that are to be accomplished on each block of inputtext according to the specified algorithm. Although the standards forthe above-noted algorithms prescribed a fixed number of cryptographicrounds per input text block, provision of the RCNT field 1008 allows aprogrammer to vary the number of rounds from that specified by thestandards. In one embodiment, the programmer can specify from 0 to 15rounds per block. Finally, contents of the IRSLT field 1005 specifywhether encryption/decryption of an input text block is to be performedfor the number of rounds specified in RCNT 1008 according to thestandard for the cryptographic algorithm specified in ALG 1007 orwhether the encryption/decryption is to be performed for the number ofrounds specified in RCNT 1008 where the final round performed representsan intermediate result rather than a final result according to thealgorithm specified in ALG 1007. One skilled in the art will appreciatethat many cryptographic algorithms perform the same sub-operationsduring each round, except for those performed in the final round. Hence,programming the IRSLT field 1005 to provide intermediate results ratherthan final results allows a programmer to verify intermediate steps ofthe implemented algorithm. For example, incremental intermediate resultsto verify algorithm performance can be obtained by, say, performing oneround of encryption on a text block, then performing two rounds on thesame text block, then three round, and so on. The capability to provideprogrammable rounds and intermediate results enables users to verifycryptographic performance, to troubleshoot, and to research the utilityof varying key structures and round counts.

[0067] Turning now to FIG. 11, a table 1100 is presented illustratingexemplary values of the DSIZE field 1002 for the control word 1000 ofFIG. 10. A “000” value of the DSIZE field 1002 directs a computingdevice according to the present invention to perform a prescribedcryptographic operation using a 128-bit block size for both input andoutput text blocks, where the blocks are provided in memory and arepointed to by contents of an input pointer register and output pointerregister, respectively. A “001” value of the DSIZE field 1002 directsthe computing device to perform the prescribed cryptographic operationusing a 192-bit block size for both input and output text blocks. A“010” value of the DSIZE field 1002 directs the computing device toperform the prescribed cryptographic operation using a 256-bit blocksize for both input and output text blocks. All other values of theDSIZE field are reserved.

[0068] Now referring to FIG. 12, a block diagram is presented featuringdetails of an exemplary cryptography unit 1200 according to the presentinvention. The cryptography unit 1200 includes a micro opcode register1203 that receives cryptographic micro instructions (i.e., XLOAD andXSTOR micro instructions) via a micro instruction bus 1214. Thecryptography unit 1200 also has a control word register 1204, an input-0register 1205, and input-1 register 1206, a key-0 register 1207, and akey-1 register 1208. Data is provided to registers 1204-1208 via a loadbus 1211 as prescribed by contents of an XLOAD micro instruction withinthe micro instruction register 1203. The cryptography unit 1200 alsoincludes block cipher logic 1201 that is coupled to all of the registers1203-1208 and that is also coupled to cryptographic key RAM 1202. Theblock cipher logic 1201 also provides a stall signal 1213 and alsoprovides block results to an output-0 register 1209 and an output-1register 1210. The output registers 1209-1210 route their contents tosuccessive stages in a conforming microprocessor via a store bus 1212.In one embodiment, the micro instruction register 1203 is 32 bits insize; registers 1204, 1207, and 1208 are 128-bits in size; and registers1205-1206 and 1209-1210 are 256-bits in size.

[0069] Operationally, cryptographic micro instructions are providedsequentially to the micro instruction register 1203 along with data thatis designated for the control word register 1204, or one of the inputregisters 1205-1206, or one of the key registers 1207-1208. In theembodiment discussed with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a control word isloaded via an XLOAD micro instruction to the control word register 1204.Then the cryptographic key or key schedule is loaded via successiveXLOAD micro instructions. If a 128-bit cryptographic key is to beloaded, then an XLOAD micro instruction is provided designating registerKEY-0 1207. If a cryptographic key greater than 128 bits is to beloaded, then an XLOAD micro instruction is provided designating registerKEY-0 1207 is provided along with an XLOAD micro instruction designatingregister KEY-1 1208. If a user-generated key schedule is to be loaded,then successive XLOAD micro instructions designating register KEY-0 1207are provided. Each of the keys from the key schedule that are loaded areplaced, in order, in the key RAM 1202 for use during their correspondingcryptographic round. Following this, input text data (if aninitialization vector is not required) is loaded to IN-1 register 1206.If an initialization vector is required, then it is loaded into IN-1register 1206 via an XLOAD micro instruction. An XLOAD micro instructionto IN-0 register 1205 directs the cryptography unit to load input textdata to IN-0 register 1205 and to begin performing cryptographic roundson input text data in register IN-0 1205 using the initialization vectorin IN-1 or in both input registers 1205-1206 (if input data is beingpipelined) according to the parameters provided via contents of thecontrol word register 1204. Upon receipt of an XLOAD micro instructiondesignating IN-0 1205, the block cipher logic 1201 starts performing thecryptographic operation prescribed by contents of the control word. Ifexpansion of a single cryptographic key is required, then the blockcipher logic 1201 generates each of the keys in the key schedule andstores them in the key RAM 1202. Regardless of whether the block cipherlogic 1201 generates a key schedule or whether the key schedule isloaded from memory, the key for the first round is cached within theblock cipher logic 1201 so that the first block cryptographic round canproceed without having to access the key RAM 1202. Once initiated, theblock cipher logic 1201 continues executing the prescribed cryptographicoperation on one or more blocks of input text until the operation iscompleted, successively fetching round keys from the key RAM 1202 asrequired by the cryptographic algorithm which is employed. Thecryptography unit 1200 performs a specified block cryptographicoperation on designated blocks of input text. Successive blocks of inputtext are encrypted or decrypted through the execution of correspondingsuccessive XLOAD and XSTOR micro instructions. When an XSTOR microinstruction is executed, if the prescribed output data (i.e., OUT-0 orOUT-1) has not yet completed generation, then the block cipher logic1201 asserts the stall signal 1213. Once the output data has beengenerated and placed into a corresponding output register 1209-1210,then the contents of that register 1209-1210 are transferred to thestore bus 1212.

[0070] Now turning to FIG. 13, a block diagram is provided illustratingan exemplary embodiment of block cipher logic 1300 according to thepresent invention for performing cryptographic operations in accordancewith the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The block cipher logic 1300includes a round engine 1320 that is coupled to a round enginecontroller 1310 via buses 1311-1314 and buses 1316-1318. The roundengine controller 1310 includes a block size controller 1330 andaccesses a micro instruction register 1301, control word register 1302,KEY-0 register 1303, and KEY-1 register 1304 to access key data, microinstructions, and parameters of the directed cryptographic operation.Contents of input registers 1305-1306 are provided to the round engine1320 and the round engine 1320 provides corresponding output text tooutput registers 1307-1308. The output registers 1307-1308 are alsocoupled to the round engine controller 1310 via buses 1316-1317 toenable the round engine controller access to the results of eachsuccessive cryptographic round, which is provided to the round engine1320 for a next cryptographic round via bus NEXTIN 1318. Cryptographickeys from key RAM (not shown) are accessed via bus 1315. Signal ENC/DEC1311 directs the round engine to employ sub-operations for performingeither encryption (e.g., S-Box) or decryption (e.g., Inverse S-Box).Contents of bus RNDCON 1312 direct the round engine 1320 to performeither a first AES round, an intermediate AES round, or a final AESround. Responsive to contents of a kgen field within a control word thatdirects that a cryptographic key be automatically expanded, the keyschedule controller 1330 asserts signal GENKEY 1314 to direct the roundengine 1320 to generate a key schedule according to the key provided viabus 1313. Key bus 1313 is also employed to provide each round key to theround engine 1320 when its corresponding round is executed. Responsiveto contents of a DSIZE field within a control word provided to the roundengine controller 1310 via the control word register 1302, the blocksize controller 1330 sets the value of bus BLKSIZE 1319 to indicate thesize of input and output text blocks to be employed during encryptionand decryption operations. In one embodiment, the value of bus BLKSIZE1319 indicates 128-bit blocks, 192-bit blocks, or 256-bit blocks.

[0071] The round engine 1320 includes first key XOR logic 1321 that iscoupled to a first register REG-0 1322. The first register 1322 iscoupled to S-Box logic 1323, which is coupled to Shift Row logic 1324.The Shift Row logic 1324 is coupled to a second register REG-1 1325. Thesecond register 1325 is coupled to Mix Column logic 1326, which iscoupled to a third register REG-2 1327. The first key logic 1321, S-Boxlogic 1323, Shift Row logic 1324, and Mix Column logic 1326 areconfigured to perform like-named sub-operations on input text data as isspecified in the AES FIPS standard discussed above in accordance withthe value of bus BLKSIZE 1319. The Mix Columns logic 1326 isadditionally configured to perform AES XOR functions on input dataduring intermediate rounds as required using round keys provided via thekey bus 1313. The first key logic 1321, S-Box logic 1323, Shift Rowlogic 1324, and Mix Column logic 1326 are also configured to performtheir corresponding inverse AES sub-operations during decryption asdirected via the state of ENC/DEC 1311. One skilled in the art willappreciate that intermediate round data is fed back to the round engine1320 according to which particular block encryption mode is prescribedvia contents of the control word register 1302. Initialization vectordata (if required) is provided to the round engine 1320 via bus NEXTIN1318.

[0072] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the round engine is dividedinto two stages: a first stage between REG-0 1322 and REG-1 1325 and asecond stage between REG-1 1325 and REG-2 1327. Intermediate round datais pipelined between stages in synchronization with a clock signal (notshown). When a cryptographic operation is completed on a block of inputdata, the associated output data is placed into a corresponding outputregister 1307-1308. Execution of an XSTOR micro instruction causescontents of a designated output register 1307-1308 to be provided to astore bus (not shown).

[0073] Now turning to FIG. 14, a flow chart is presented featuring amethod according to the present invention for preserving the state ofcryptographic parameters during an interrupting event. Flow begins atblock 1402 when a flow of instructions is executed by a microprocessoraccording to the present invention. It is not necessary that the flow ofinstructions include an XCRYPT instruction as is herein described. Flowthen proceeds to decision block 1404.

[0074] At decision block 1404, an evaluation is made to determine if aninterrupting event (e.g., maskable interrupt, non-maskable interrupt,page fault, task switch, etc.) is occurring that requires a change inthe flow of instructions over to a flow of instructions (“interrupthandler”) to process the interrupting event. If so, then flow proceedsto block 1406. If not, then flow loops on decision block 1404 whereinstruction execution continues until an interrupting event occurs.

[0075] At block 1406, because an interrupting event has occurred, priorto transferring program control to a corresponding interrupt handler,interrupt logic according to the present invention directs that the Xbit within a flags register be cleared. Clearing of the X bit ensuresthat, upon return from the interrupt handler, if a block cryptographicoperation was in progress, it will be indicated that one or moreinterrupting events transpired and that control word data and key datamust be reloaded prior to continuing the block cryptographic operationon the block of input data currently pointed to by contents of the inputpointer register. Flow then proceeds to block 1408.

[0076] At block 1408, all of the architectural registers containingpointers and counters associated with performance of a blockcryptographic operation according to the present invention are saved tomemory. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the saving ofarchitectural registers is an activity that is typically accomplished ina present data computing device prior to transferring control tointerrupt handlers. Consequently, the present invention exploits thisaspect of present data architectures to provide for transparency ofexecution throughout interrupting events. After the registers are saved,flow then proceeds to block 1410.

[0077] At block 1410, program flow is transferred to the interrupthandler. Flow then proceeds to block 1412.

[0078] At block 1412, the method completes. One skilled in the art willappreciate that the method of FIG. 14 begins again at block 1402 uponreturn from the interrupt handler.

[0079] Now referring to FIG. 15, a flow chart 1500 is provided depictinga method according to the present invention for employing auser-prescribed block size when performing a cryptographic operation ona plurality of input data blocks in the presence of one or moreinterrupting events. For purposes of clarity, flow for executing thespecified cryptographic operations according to block cipher modes thatrequire update and storage of initialization vector equivalents betweenblocks (e.g., output feedback mode, cipher feedback mode) is omitted,although these other block cipher modes are comprehended by the methodaccording to the present invention.

[0080] Flow begins at block 1502, where an XCRPYT instruction accordingto the present invention that directs a cryptographic operation beginsexecution. Execution of the XCRYPT instruction can be a first executionor it can be execution following a first execution as a result ofinterruption of execution by an interrupting event such that programcontrol is transferred back to the XCRYPT instruction after an interrupthandler has executed. Flow then proceeds to block 1504.

[0081] At block 1504, a block of data in memory that is pointed to bycontents of an input pointer register according to the present inventionis loaded from the memory and a prescribed cryptographic operation isstarted. The block size that is employed to load the block of data is128 bits in a default embodiment. Consequently, when block sizes otherthan 128 bits are employed, it is required that instructions be executedto clear the X bit prior to issuing the XCRYPT instruction. In anX86-compatible embodiment that employs bit 30 within an X86 EFLAGSregister, the X bit can be cleared by executing a PUSHFD instructionfollowed by a POPFD instruction. One skilled in the art will appreciate,however, that in alternative embodiments other instructions must beemployed to clear the X bit. In one embodiment, the prescribedcryptographic operation is started according to the AES algorithm. Flowthen proceeds to decision block 1506.

[0082] At decision block 1506, an evaluation is made to determinewhether or not an X bit in a flags register is set. If the X bit is set,then it is indicated that the control word and key schedule currentlyloaded within a cryptography unit according to the present invention arevalid. If the X bit is clear, then it is indicated that the control wordand key schedule currently loaded within the cryptography unit are notvalid. As alluded to above with reference to FIG. 14, the X bit iscleared when an interrupting event occurs. If the X bit is set, thenflow proceeds to block 1524. IF the X bit is clear, then flow proceedsto block 1508.

[0083] At block 1508, since a cleared X bit has indicated that either aninterrupting event has occurred or that a new control word and/or keydata are to be loaded, a control word is loaded from memory. In oneembodiment, loading the control word stops the cryptography unit fromperforming the prescribed cryptographic operation noted above withreference to block 1504. Starting a cryptographic operation in block1504 in this exemplary embodiment allows for optimization of multiple128-bit block cryptographic operations using ECB mode by presuming thata currently loaded control word and key data are to be employed and thatECB mode performed on 128-bit input blocks is the most commonly employedblock cipher mode. Accordingly, the current block of input data isloaded and the cryptographic operation begun prior to checking the stateof the X bit in decision block 1506 is reset. Flow then proceeds todecision block 1514.

[0084] At decision block 1514, the DSIZE field within the control wordretrieved at block 1508 is evaluated to determine the size of input andoutput text blocks to be employed during performance of the prescribedcryptographic operation. If the value of the DSIZE field prescribes192-bit blocks, then flow proceeds to block 1510. If the value of theDSIZE field prescribes 128-bit blocks, then flow proceeds to block 1516.If the value of the DSIZE field prescribes 256-bit blocks, then flowproceeds to block 1518.

[0085] At block 1510, bus BLKSIZE within block cipher logic according tothe present invention is set to direct its round engine to performcryptographic operations for 192-bit data blocks. Flow then proceeds toblock 1512.

[0086] At block 1512, the cryptographic key data is loaded from memory.According to the state of fields KGEN and KSIZE within the control word,the key data is either loaded entirely from memory (i.e., auser-generated key schedule) or an initial key is loaded and expandedinto a key schedule. Flow then proceeds to block 1522.

[0087] At block 1516, because bus BLKSIZE within the block cipher logicdefaults to 128-bit data blocks, all that is necessary is to load/expandthe cryptographic key data as described above with reference to block1512. Flow then proceeds to block 1522.

[0088] At block 1518, bus BLKSIZE within block cipher logic according tothe present invention is set to direct its round engine to performcryptographic operations for 256-bit data blocks. Flow then proceeds toblock 1520.

[0089] At block 1520, the cryptographic key data is loaded/expanded asdescribed above with reference to block 1512. Flow then proceeds toblock 1522.

[0090] At block 1518, the input block referenced in block 1504 is loadedagain according to the block size specified by the value of the DSIZEfield within the control word and the cryptographic operation is startedaccording to the newly loaded control word and key schedule. Flow thenproceeds to block 1524.

[0091] At block 1524, an output block corresponding in size to theloaded input block is generated. For encryption, the input block is aplaintext block and the output block is a corresponding ciphertextblock. For decryption, the input block is a ciphertext block and theoutput block is a corresponding plaintext block. Flow then proceeds toblock 1526.

[0092] At block 1526, the generated output block is stored to memory.Flow then proceeds to block 1528.

[0093] At block 1528, the contents of input and output block pointerregisters are modified to point to next input and output data blocksaccording to the value of field DSIZE within the control word. Inaddition, contents of the block counter register are modified toindicate completion of the cryptographic operation on the current inputdata block. In the embodiment discussed with reference to FIG. 15, theblock counter register is decremented. One skilled in the art willappreciate, however, that alternative embodiments contemplatemanipulation and testing of contents of the block count register toallow for pipelined execution of input text blocks as well. Flow thenproceeds to decision block 1530.

[0094] At decision block 1530, an evaluation is made to determine if aninput data block remains to be operated upon. In the embodiment featuredherein, for illustrative purposes, the block counter is evaluated todetermine if it equals zero. If no block remains to be operated upon,then flow proceeds to block 1534. If a block remains to be operatedupon, then flow proceeds to block 1532.

[0095] At block 1532, the next block of input data is loaded, as pointedto by contents of the input pointer register. Flow then proceeds toblock 1524.

[0096] At block 1530, the method completes.

[0097] Although the present invention and its objects, features, andadvantages have been described in detail, other embodiments areencompassed by the invention as well. For example, the present inventionhas been discussed at length according to embodiments that arecompatible with the x86 architecture. However, the discussions have beenprovided in such a manner because the x86 architecture is widelycomprehended and thus provides a sufficient vehicle to teach the presentinvention. The present invention nevertheless comprehends embodimentsthat comport with other instruction set architectures such as PowerPC®,MIPS®, and the like, in addition to entirely new instruction setarchitectures.

[0098] The present invention moreover comprehends execution ofcryptographic operations within elements of a computing system otherthan the microprocessor itself. For example, the cryptographicinstruction according to the present invention could easily be appliedwithin an embodiment of a cryptography unit that is not part of the sameintegrated circuit as a microprocessor that exercises as part of thecomputer system. It is anticipated that such embodiments of the presentinvention are in order for incorporation into a chipset surrounding amicroprocessor (e.g., north bridge, south bridge) or as a processordedicated for performing cryptographic operations where thecryptographic instruction is handed off to the processor from a hostmicroprocessor. It is contemplated that the present invention applies toembedded controllers, industrial controllers, signal processors, arrayprocessors, and any like devices that are employed to process data. Thepresent invention also comprehends an embodiment comprising only thoseelements essential to performing cryptographic operations as describedherein. A device embodied as such would indeed provide a low-cost,low-power alternative for performing cryptographic operations only, say,as an encryption/decryption processor within a communications system.For clarity, the present inventors refer to these alternative processingelements as noted above as processors.

[0099] In addition, although the present invention has been described interms of 128-bit blocks, it is considered that various different blocksizes can be employed by merely changing the size of registers thatcarry input data, output data, keys, and control words.

[0100] Furthermore, although DES, Triple-DES, and AES have beenprominently featured in this application, the present inventors notethat the invention described herein encompasses lesser known blockcryptography algorithms as well such as the MARS cipher, the Rijndaelcipher, the Twofish cipher, the Blowfish Cipher, the Serpent Cipher, andthe RC6 cipher. What is sufficient to comprehend is that the presentinvention provides dedicated block cryptography apparatus and supportingmethodology within a microprocessor where atomic block cryptographicoperations can be invoked via execution of a single instruction.

[0101] Also, although the present invention has been featured herein interms of block cryptographic algorithms and associated techniques forperforming block cryptographic functions, it is noted that the presentinvention entirely comprehends other forms of cryptography other thanblock cryptography. It is sufficient to observe that a singleinstruction is provided whereby a user can direct a conformingmicroprocessor to perform a cryptographic operation such as encryptionor decryption, where the microprocessor includes a dedicatedcryptography unit that is directed towards accomplishment ofcryptographic functions prescribed by the instruction.

[0102] Moreover, the discussion of a round engine herein provides for a2-stage apparatus that can pipeline two blocks of input data, thepresent inventors note that additional embodiments contemplate more thantwo stages. It is anticipated that stage division to support pipeliningof more input data blocks will evolve in concert with dividing of otherstages within a comporting microprocessor.

[0103] Finally, although the present invention has been specificallydiscussed as a single cryptography unit that supports a plurality ofblock cryptographic algorithms, the invention also comprehends provisionof multiple cryptographic units operatively coupled in parallel withother execution units in a conforming microprocessor where each of themultiple cryptographic units is configured to perform a specific blockcryptographic algorithm. For example, a first unit is configured forAES, a second for DES, and so on.

[0104] Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readilyuse the disclosed conception and specific embodiments as a basis fordesigning or modifying other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present invention, and that various changes,substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for performing cryptographicoperations, comprising: a cryptographic instruction, received by acomputing device as part of an instruction flow executing on saidcomputing device, wherein said cryptographic instruction prescribes oneof the cryptographic operations, and wherein said cryptographicinstruction prescribes one of a plurality of data block sizes; andexecution logic, operatively coupled to said cryptographic instruction,configured to execute said one of the cryptographic operations, saidexecution logic comprising: a block size controller, configured toemploy said one of a plurality of data block sizes during execution ofsaid one of the cryptographic operations.
 2. The apparatus as recited inclaim 1, wherein said one of the cryptographic operations furthercomprises: an encryption operation, said encryption operation comprisingencryption of a plurality of plaintext blocks to generate acorresponding plurality of ciphertext blocks.
 3. The apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein said one of the cryptographic operationsfurther comprises: a decryption operation, said decryption operationcomprising decryption of a plurality of ciphertext blocks to generate acorresponding plurality of plaintext blocks.
 4. The apparatus as recitedin claim 1, wherein said one of a plurality of data block sizescomprises 128 bits.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein saidone of a plurality of data block sizes comprises 192 bits.
 6. Theapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said one of a plurality of datablock sizes comprises 256 bits.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein said one of the cryptographic operations is executed accordingto the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm.
 8. The apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein said data block controller is configured tointerpret a data block size field within a control word which isreferenced by said cryptographic instruction.
 9. The apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein said cryptographic instruction is prescribedaccording to the x86 instruction format.
 10. The apparatus as recited inclaim 1, wherein said cryptographic instruction implicitly references aplurality of registers within said computing device.
 11. The apparatusas recited in claim 10 wherein said plurality of registers comprises: afirst register, wherein contents of said first register comprise a firstpointer to a first memory address, said first memory address specifyinga first location in memory for access of a plurality of input textblocks upon which said one of the cryptographic operations is to beaccomplished, said plurality of input text blocks are sized according tosaid one of a plurality of data block sizes.
 12. The apparatus asrecited in claim 10, wherein said plurality of registers comprises: asecond register, wherein contents of said second register comprise asecond pointer to a second memory address, said second memory addressspecifying a second location in said memory for storage of acorresponding plurality of output text blocks, said correspondingplurality of output text blocks being generated as a result ofaccomplishing said one of the cryptographic operations upon a pluralityof input text blocks, wherein said plurality of input and output textblocks are sized according to said one of a plurality of data blocksizes.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said pluralityof registers comprises: a third register, wherein contents of said thirdregister indicate a number blocks within a plurality of input textblocks, wherein said plurality of input text blocks are sized accordingto said one of a plurality of data block sizes.
 14. The apparatus asrecited in claim 10, wherein said plurality of registers comprises: afourth register, wherein contents of said fourth register comprise athird pointer to a third memory address, said third memory addressspecifying a third location in memory for access of cryptographic keydata for use in accomplishing said one of the cryptographic operations.15. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said plurality ofregisters comprises: a fifth register, wherein contents of said fifthregister comprise a fourth pointer to a fourth memory address, saidfourth memory address specifying a fourth location in memory, saidfourth location comprising said initialization vector location, contentsof said initialization vector location comprising an initializationvector or initialization vector equivalent for use in accomplishing saidone of the cryptographic operations.
 16. The apparatus as recited inclaim 8, wherein said plurality of registers comprises: a sixthregister, wherein contents of said sixth register comprise a fifthpointer to a fifth memory address, said fifth memory address specifyinga fifth location in memory for access of a control word for use inaccomplishing said one of the cryptographic operations, wherein saidcontrol word prescribes cryptographic parameters for said one of thecryptographic operations, and wherein said control word comprises: adata block size field, configured to specify said one of a plurality ofdata block sizes to be employed during execution of said one of thecryptographic operations.
 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein said execution logic comprises: a cryptography unit, configuredexecute a plurality of cryptographic rounds on each of a plurality ofinput text blocks to generate a corresponding each of a plurality ofoutput text blocks, wherein said one of a plurality of data block sizesis prescribed by a control word that is provided to said block sizecontroller within said cryptography unit.
 18. An apparatus forperforming cryptographic operations, comprising: a cryptography unitwithin a device, configured to execute one of the cryptographicoperations responsive to receipt of a cryptographic instruction withinan instruction flow that prescribes said one of the cryptographicoperations, wherein said cryptographic instruction also prescribes ablock size to be employed when executing said one of the cryptographicoperations; and block size logic, operatively coupled within saidcryptography unit, configured to direct said device to employ said blocksize when performing said one of the cryptographic operations.
 19. Theapparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said block size comprises128-bits.
 20. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said blocksize comprises 192-bits.
 21. The apparatus as recited in claim 18,wherein said block size comprises 256-bits.
 22. The apparatus as recitedin claim 18, wherein said one of the cryptographic operations isexecuted according to the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm.23. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said block size logicis configured to interpret a data block size field within a control wordwhich is referenced by said cryptographic instruction.
 24. The apparatusas recited in claim 18, wherein said cryptographic instruction isprescribed according to the x86 instruction format.
 25. A method forperforming cryptographic operations in a device, the method comprising:receiving a cryptographic instruction that prescribes employment ofparticular block size during execution of one of a plurality ofcryptographic operations; and employing the data block size whenexecuting the one of the cryptographic operations.
 26. The method asrecited in claim 25, wherein said receiving comprises: via a fieldwithin a control word that is referenced by the cryptographicinstruction, specifying the particular block size.
 27. The method asrecited in claim 26, wherein said specifying comprises: prescribing 128bits as the particular block size.
 28. The method as recited in claim26, wherein said specifying comprises: prescribing 192 bits as theparticular block size.
 29. The method as recited in claim 26, whereinsaid specifying comprises: prescribing 256 bits as the particular blocksize.
 30. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein said employingcomprises: executing the one of the cryptographic operations accordingto the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm.
 31. The method asrecited in claim 25, wherein said receiving comprises: prescribing thecryptographic instruction according to the x86 instruction format.